Derivatives of alpha higher carboxylic acids



Patented Jan. 2, 1940 DERIVATIVES or ALPHA HIGHER cannoxmc ACIDS Frank J. Cahn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Emulsol Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois No Drawing. Application April 9, 1937, Serial No. 135,957

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new chemical compounds which have particular utility as interface modifying agents.

In various industries, there is a need for certain 5 classes of chemical substances which possess a modifying action between interfaces such as, for example, oil and water interfaces which are present in emulsions, dispersions and the like. The novel chemical compounds of the present inl0 vention possess the property in question and have utility in such fields as the textile and related fields where they function in various ways such as wetting-out agents, softening agents, dyeing assistants, emulsifying and detergent agents; as

l8 emulsifying agents in oleaginous-aqueous emulsionsgenerally including the field of edible emulsions; as anti-spattering agents for margarine, the latter being a plastic emulsion of oleaginous and aqueous materials; as penetrating, lathering, .50 and frothing agents in the arts where such functions are desired; as ore flotation agents with and without mineral oil, fatty acids such as oleic acid or other collectors or fatty collectors, and, in general, wherever modification of interfaces 28 is a desideratum.

The novel compounds of the present invention, in general, comprise certain hydrophilic derivatives of higher molecular weight carboxylic acids or derivatives of said acids wherein at least one 80 of the hydrogen atoms attached to the carboxyl group of said higher molecular weight carboxylic acid or derivative is replaced by certain specific classes of hydrbphile groups. The hydrophile or hydrophilic or water-solubilizing groups are gen- 85 erally oxygenated sulphur or oxygenated phosphorus groups and include the following as examples thereof; sulphate, sulphonic, phosphate, phosphonic, phosphite, pyrophosphate, orthophosphate, tetraphosphoric acid, sulpho-carboxy- 4 lie acid such as sulpho-acetate, sulpho-p'ropionate, sulpho-butyrate. In certain cases, the hydrophilic group may comprise polyhydroxycarboxylic acid radicals suitably linked to the carbon in the alpha position to the 'carboxylic group of the higher carboxylic acid as illustrated in Examples 6 and 7 listed hereinbelow, or the hydrophllic group may comprise a sulfonium group as indicated in Example 14 below. It has been found,

50 peculiarly enough, that the aforementioned hydrophilic groups must be present in the alpha position to the carboxyl group of the higher molecular weight carboxylic acid or derivative of the latter in order to function properly for the purposes indicated above.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to prepare new chemical compounds.

Another object of the present invention is the preparation of new chemical compounds having particular utility as interface modifying agents. 6

Still another object of the invention is the preparation of new and useful chemical compounds in the form of certain derivatives of higher molecular weight carboxylic acids.

These and other objects of the invention will i0 become still further apparent in the light of the following more detailed description of the invention.

As has been indicated above, certain hydrophilic groups or classes of groups, previously described, are introduced into the alpha position of the higher molecular weight carboxylic acid.

It will be understood that the hydrophiie groups or lrvdrophilic groups possess an aflinity for water or aqueous media. These groups impart go to the molecule, of which they form a part, a tendency to become soluble in water or aqueous media. The degree or extent of the hydrophilic properties is dependent upon the number and character of the hydrophile groups and the charg5 acter of the other group or groups with which it is associated in the molecule. It is likewise apparent that the various hydrophile groups will vary in hydrophilic potency.

Among the higher molecular weight carboxylic 3 acids which may be employed to produce compounds suitable for the purposes of this invention are the following: higher fatty acids, saturated and unsaturated, such as caproic, capric, caprylic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic, stearic, 35 linoleic, ricinoleic, melissic, i-hydroxystearic; mixed higher fatty acids, saturated and unsaturated, derived from animal or vegetable sources, for example, lard, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, sardine oil, partially or completely hydro- 4o genated animal and vegetable oils such as cottonseed oil, corn oil, sesame oil, lard and soya bean oil; higher carboxylic acids derived from various waxes such as beeswax, spermaceti, and carnauba wax; higher molecular weight straight 4 chain and branched chain carboxylic acids derived by oxidation and other methods from petroleum; hydroaromatic carboxylic acids such as dihydro methylcyclo-hexylidene acetic acid, and cycloaliphatic acids such as various naph- 0 thenic acids.

In order that those skilled in the art may have a full picture of the nature and scope of the present invention, there are listed hereinbelow various compounds which may be employed suc- 5 cessi'ully, in accordance with the invention, for the purposes indicated herelnabove.

(9) CHr-(CHzhr-C H-C ONE lo Na (n is primarily 9 and l1derived from coconut oil fatty acids.)

0 CHx-(OHDr-CH-C-OCH:

CHz-

While the above compounds represent single substances, in practice it is generally more convenient to make and use compositions of whichsaid compounds form only a part as. for example, reaction mixtures containing said compounds. In addition, mixtures of any two or more of said compounds may be employed with excellent results if desired.

As is apparent from the various examples of the novel compounds listed above, most of said compounds are higher molecular weight carboxylic acids, particularly higher fatty acids, and

derivatives thereof wherein at least one hydrogen attached to the carbon adjacent to the carboxyl group is replaced by a radical containing oxygenated sulphur or oxygenated phosphorus'. The compounds in said list numbered (1) to (5), inclusive, and (8) to (13), inclusive. fall into this category. The other compounds in said list, namely, those numbered (6), (7), and (14), while not falling into the above category, nevertheless are characterized by the presence, in the alpha position to the carboxyl group of the higher molecular weight carboxylic .acid or derivative thereof, of particular types of hydro phile groups in placeof hydrogen.

In general, and as is evident by a consideration of the examples listed above, the carboxyl group of the fatty acid, modified by substituting particular hydrophile groups in the alpha position as described, may be neutralized with organic or inorganic substances, may be esterified or converted to an amide, or may be simply allowed to remain as such.

The following examples are illustrative of' methods of producing various of the novel compounds of the present invention:

Example A 10% of water. The isopropyl alcohol extract on evaporation yielded the alpha sulphate este I 1| paste, soluble in water.

.acetioacidatmildezrees tree it from excess turebeins a whitepowdsr.

Implsl glycerol were dissolved out with petroleum ether. The substance obtained. the slycerol ester, or aipha-brom pyrldinium stearic acid. is a brown trample c 100 grams 0!. alpha hydroxy coconut oil iatty .acldswereheatedwith loogramsoimonochlor- C. for 4 hours while stream of carbon dioxide through Alter the reaction was over, the product was washed repeatedly with hot water to chloracetic acid. 44 grams of the resultins chloracetate. containina 68.5% 01 the theoretical chlorine content, were stirred with a saturated aqueous. solution containing '12 grams oi potassium sulphite for 8 hours. the temperagradually raised from 50 degrees C. to '70 degrees C. and the evaporated gradually replenished. All oi the chlorine prw transformed into the ionized form. 8 volumes of hot isopropyl alcohol were then over said product. The hot isopropyl passing a slow the mixture.

alcohol was then decanted and the remainder fll- I tel-ed from the inorganic salts. Upon evaporation of the isopropyl alcohol, the product obtained contained 71% of the theoretical sulphur content... The substance, alpha vlziydroxy coconut oil fatty acids, potassium salt, is a yellow wax-like material, freely soluble in hot water.

In those cases where the hydrophilic group, in the alpha position to the'carboxyl group of the weight carboxylic acid or derivative thereof, contains'an acidic or higher fatty acids,

water being sulphoacetic acid esters of the class consisting of carbon atoms.

suitable cation of organic or inorganic character. These include the alkali metals. ammonium. calcium, magnesium, like. Furthermore, aliphatic and aromatic amines including alkylolamines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and mixtures thereof, pyridine, monium bases such as tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide, tetra-ethyl ammonium hydroxide, and other anti-acid materials may be used to neutralise acid groups such as carboxyl. sulphuric and phosphoric groups.

Wherever the term "hiaher is used in the specification and claims compounds of this invention as, for example, the term "higher" will be understood-to cover at least six carbon atoms..

what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 0! the United States is:

l. The class consisting oi carboxylic acids hav--- ing at least six carbon atoms, their and amides, wherein at least one hydrosen attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the carbcxyl group is replaced by-the radical wherein Y is a cation.

' 2. The class consisting of fatty acids having at least six carbon atoms, their salts, esters and amides, wherein at least to the carbon atom adjacent'to the carboxyl group is replaced by the radical "I I /o --o-o-cn, s%o v wherein Y is a cation. 1

3. Chemical compounds in accordance with claim 2,.wherein the fatty acids are derived from oils, iats and waxes and contain predominantly between ten and to reier to the chemical J salts, esters J one hydrogen attached 'mmxa'csmt- 

